Another NBA offseason has passed, so that means fans get another year to complain about preseason rankings of their favorite players and teams. ESPN releases a yearly top 100 player rankings list before the regular season based on votes by a panel of ESPN Insiders.
Last season, now-former Grizzlies' guard Desmond Bane was ranked 60th on ESPN's top 100 list, which was surprisingly low for the starting shooting guard. Despite him having a somewhat down season due to their new offensive system, he ranked 39th on this year's ranking after being traded to the Orlando Magic this summer.
His former teammates remain higher than him on the list, but in surprising positions compared to where they ranked before last season.
Jaren Jackson Jr. ranked higher than Morant
Jaren Jackson Jr. was ranked relatively low in ESPN's top 100 rankings last season, as he ranked 55th. However, he gained a significant jump this season to 31 after an All-NBA caliber season that saw him fall just short of making the All-NBA third team last season. ESPN writer Kevin Pelton mentioned that Jackson Jr. could crack the top 20 if he returned to his Defensive Player of the Year form with his offensive efficiency.
Ja Morant, on the other hand, fell from a top 20 ranking last season to number 33 in this year's iteration. ESPN's Tim MacMahon discussed everything considered in Morant's ranking and why it was as low as it was. Much like how Desmond Bane's production took a dip in their offensive system, Morant's game took the biggest hit until the coaching change from Taylor Jenkins to Tuomas Iisalo.
Health played a significant role in Morant's ranking, much like it did for other players in a similar position, such as Joel Embiid (47) and Zion Williamson (61). A bounce-back year is expected from the Grizzlies' star guard under a coach whose system caters to his strength. It just goes back to the question of Ja Morant playing 60-plus games for the team this season.
There will always be outrage over player rankings because it is all opinion-based from different people. Jaren Jackson Jr. was rewarded with a higher ranking than Ja Morant after having what many considered a better season. However, none of that matters when the basketball is tipped off to begin the regular season, as the Grizzlies will need both players to continue rising their games to become a contender in the Western Conference.